Erlene Grise-Owens

Dr. Erlene Grise-Owens, Ed.D., LCSW, LMFT, MSW, MRE is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC. This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals. As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!

Using an A-to-Z framework, the editors and contributors to this self-care handbook outline strategies for social workers/helping professionals to build a self-care plan with specific goals and ways to reach them realistically.more

September, 2017 marks the Self-Care A-to-Z blog’s one-year anniversary. In celebration, let’s KISS, i.e., Keep it Simple Self-Care! Social work can be overwhelming. Bad news: Self-care is challenging! Good news: it CAN be simple!more

As we “do our jobs,” we traverse toxicity and encounter ethical choices, which may lead to firing. May we have clear, consistent values and courageous, caring personal Boards of Trustees! And, let’s be radically fired up about self-care.more

Amidst toxic racism and stark poverty, George Dawson demonstrated incredible personal resilience. This entry elucidates four more of Dawson’s compelling lessons of resilience for self-care inspiration, from his book, Life is So Good.more

Vicarious resilience is a form of self-care. In contrast to vicarious trauma, vicarious resilience refers to the positive impact of hearing how others cope with trauma and difficulties. Seek out stories of resilience to inspire self-care.more

March, Social Work Month, is a time to reflect on where our profession has been, our current status, and future directions. Let’s celebrate this month by emphasizing self-care as a professional priority.more

In February, Erlene Grise-Owens refrains from making non-essential purchases. She invites you to join her in a “Frugal February” reflection. If a month is too much, consider doing Frugal Fridays or another modification.more

To paraphrase Charles Dickens: These are the “worst of times” for stress; these are the “best of times” for self-care! Holidays are particularly stressful for helping professionals. The Season of Stress calls for even more intentional self-care.more

Welcome to OUR blog! This space is for all of us to share our struggles, strategies, and successes with self-care! The blog was prompted by the recent publication of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals.more